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I’m an Introvert (It’s Nothing Personal)

I’m an introvert. Well, actually I’m not. I’m actually what is known as an ambivert. I’m an introvert with some extrovert tendencies. But that’s not the point of this post. I’m talking about introverts because that is what I associate with most.

Being an introvert isn’t usually socially acceptable.

As an introvert on a college campus, I’ve learned that quite quickly. Living the dorm life means constant social interaction — an introvert’s fear. Sure, you can shut the door and only leave for class, but that requires your roommate to be in agreement/out of the room a lot. Then you have group projects, communal bathrooms, and hall activities.

People. all. over.

It’s not that we don’t like people. We do. But continued social interaction wears us out.

I have a friend from high school who feels the same way as Ms. Hepburn and I do. On Friday nights, we would watch a movie together. Limited talking. We didn’t want to be alone.

I was recently described in an e-mail as

the short girl with dark brown hair and glasses

I’ve taken the time to learn all of the other 19 student’s names, but apparently I don’t assert myself enough to be noticed. Too much of a wallflower. Is that bad? I suppose there needs to be a happy medium. And, yes, in the smaller group I do speak up more. But just because I don’t speak much in the large group setting doesn’t mean my mind isn’t whirling.

Quietest people have the loudest minds. -Stephen Hawking

I truly do believe that.

Large groups of people that I’m not comfortable with freaks me out. It’s nothing personal when I cling to the edges and say little. And while I may feel like Mr. Darcy at a party:

Nothing is more awkward than trying to make sense of small talk.

I found this TED Talk with Susan Cain talking about The Power Of Introverts. That is when I became more interested in what that meant and said about me and how to survive in a world geared toward extroverts.

Susan Cain is also featured in another Youtube video called The Power of Quiet

For those confused extroverts and my fellow introverts, here are some links with some interesting introvert information: